Table top basketball game comprising a beverage cup

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a basketball inspired game of skill where people at parties can create games or have competitions revolving around attempting to throw a light weight ball into a beverage cup to which a backboard is attached. The components of the game and the method for playing the game are disclosed herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a basketball inspired game of skill where people at parties can create games or have competitions wherein players attempt to throw a light weight ball into a beverage cup to which a backboard is attached.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People enjoy playing games and challenging themselves and others. Most people like to laugh and be amused. Taverns and bars currently have pool tables, electronic dart games, pin-ball and other electronic games. Those games are typically placed in one area of the bar, have limited or no seating available and cost money to play. This invention can be played for free at a table or booth while the bar goers socialize. This invention can also be played in a dorm room or spread out in a large area. It can involve many people, and have any number of rules or objects of play.

Currently there are other games that involve attempting to get a ping pong ball to land in a beverage cup containing a beverage and these games are very popular at college campuses and have a large following of fans. This invention would be an improvement on these popular games by incorporating the commonly known sport of basketball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a table top basketball game and a method of playing the table top basketball game. The invention is a basketball backboard that can be attached to a regular drinking cup, allowing players at any party to play a miniature version of the game basketball. The cup is usually filled with a beverage or fluid to keep the cup from falling over under the weight of the backboard or from the impact of the ball hitting against the backboard. The fluid also functions to keep the ball in the cup because the attractive nature of water sticks to the ball and keeps the ball from bouncing out. The basic rule is simple: Get the ball into the cup! However, the game can be played by the rules of the commonly known game of “H.O.R.S.E.” which involves any trick shot you can think of such as: multiple bounces; bouncing off of an object; using the left hand; using the right hand; throwing over the head, under you legs, behind the back, etc. Other suggestions will be “Most in a row”, “Long distance”, “Around the world” (shots from multiple locations). Players will undoubtedly make up their own games as well. The means for attaching the backboard to the cup can be adhesive, a band, fasteners, or a bend in the backboard with a hole allowing the cup to slide in. The preferred method of attaching the backboard to the cup is three fingers extending downward from the lower edge of the backboard. The cup fits between the middle finger and the outer fingers and the friction from the tension of the fingers on the cup keep the backboard in place. The backboard can have many fingers to increase friction.

The backboard sits vertical above the cup and can also have a hoop extending horizontally away from the backboard, which can be made of plastic, wire, cardboard or integrally molded into the backboard.

The game will be very fun to players and can be included as a promotional item in purchases of cases of beer or soda by perforating the shape of the backboard into the cardboard case containing the beverages. This would allow purchasers of the beverage to play a drinking game version of the table top basketball game with the purchased beverage. When the game is popular, beverage companies can incorporate the game into packaging of the beverages to promote the brand and set one brand apart from the others. Perforations in the case of beverages would be in the shape of a backboard with a means for attaching the backboard to a drinking cup. A hoop can also be integral to the packaging to be attached to the backboard.

The method for playing the table top basketball game comprises putting a beverage in a cup and securing a backboard to the cup to protrude vertically, upward away from the cup. Then throwing or urging a ball toward the cup in an attempt to make the ball into the cup. The object of the game is to get as many balls into the cup as possible or to drink the beverage once a ball is made into the cup. The cups can also be placed on a portable playing surface designed to look like a regulation basketball court. The cups are placed at both ends of the board and two players stand at the ends of the court. The object of the game is that players attempt to throw a ball into the other player's cup. The game can be played for points or as the ball is made in the cup the player drinks the beverage.

Another method for playing the game comprises incorporating the table top basketball game into the commonly known game of beer pong as an additional target that the thrower can attempt to throw the ball into. The method of incorporating the invention into the commonly known game of beer pong can also comprise putting the cup with the attached backboard a further distance away from the other beer pong beverage cups. If the thrower lands a ball into the cup with the attached backboard, the player earns more points, similar to a three-pointer in full sized basketball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Isometric view of the full tabletop basketball game.

FIG. 2: Isometric view of the preferred backboard and hoop.

FIG. 3: Front view of the backboard attached to the cup using the preferred means of attachment.

FIG. 4: Isometric view of the backboard integral to a typical case of beverages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment is a game board 1 that is designed to resemble a commonly known full size regulation basketball court. The game board 1 would be between 2 feet long up to 10 feet long and a proportional width scaled down from a full size basketball court. The game board would have a first end 12 and second end 13. At each first 12 and second end 13 of the court sits a drinking cup 4 filled with a beverage 5 such as beer or water or soda pop. Affixed to the top of the drinking cup 4 sits a backboard 3 made from a stiff material and extending vertically away from the top of the cup 4. The preferred means for attaching the backboard 3 to the cup 4 is by having three fingers 6, 7, 8 extending away from the lower edge of the backboard. The outer fingers 7, 8 are meant to be in opposition to the middle finger 6. The fingers 6, 7, 8 slide past the rim of the cup 4 where the outer fingers 7, 8 are outside the cup 4 and the middle finger 6 is inside the cup 4. The stiffness of the fingers causes the backboard 3 to cling to the cup 4 with enough force to stay upright and to react the load of being impacted by the ball 2. A rim 9 is a hoop of material and is attached to the backboard to resemble a full size basketball game.

The material of the basketball backboard 3 can be injection molded plastic or other polymer but the preferred material is cardboard preferably the packaging 10 for cases of canned beverages. Perforations 11 in the cardboard packaging 10 allow for easy removal of the backboards 3 for game play at any location.

Another preferred embodiment is a method of playing the table top basketball game 3,4,5 by attempting to throw the ball 2 into the cup 4 and utilizing the beverage 5 to keep the ball in the cup and to weigh the cup down so it doesn't fall over. The ball may hit the backboard 3 and fall into the cup rather than flying out of play. The cups are preferably on a portable playing surface 1 that is designed to look like a basketball court. A ball 2 is bounced by a player off the surface of the portable playing surface 1 from varying distances into the cup 4.

Another method for playing the game may be to incorporate the table top basketball game 3,4,5 into the commonly known game of beer pong as an additional target for the thrower to attempt to throw a ball 2 into. The cup and backboard combination 3,4,5 disclosed in this invention can be set at varying distances and players can score additional points for making the ball 2 into the cup 4 from further distances away. 

1. A table top basketball stand comprising, a planar backboard having an upper and lower edge, the lower edge of the backboard having a means for securing the backboard to a cup.
 2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a hoop of material extending horizontally away from the backboard.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the lower edge of the backboard has a plurality of fingers for securing the backboard to a cup.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the fingers have two outer fingers for outside a cup and a middle finger or inside a cup.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the backboard is integral to and can be removed from a packaging of a quantity of beverages.
 6. The invention of claim 2 where the backboard and hoop are material integral to and can be removed from a packaging of quantity of beverages.
 7. The invention of claim 1 where the backboard is made from a polymer.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the backboard is decorated to appear like a regulation, full sized basketball backboard.
 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the backboard is decorated with advertising.
 10. A table top basketball game comprising, a cup filled with a fluid, a planar backboard having an upper and lower edge placed vertically on the cup, the lower edge of the backboard having a means for securing the backboard to the cup and a hoop of material extending horizontally away from the backboard over the cup.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the invention is integral to and can be removed from a package of beverages.
 12. The invention of claim 10 where the backboard is made from a polymer.
 13. The invention of claim 10 wherein the backboard is decorated to appear like a regulation, full sized basketball backboard.
 14. The invention of claim 10 wherein the backboard is decorated with advertising.
 15. The table top basketball game of claim 10 further comprising a light weight ball for throwing into the cup containing fluid.
 16. The table top basketball game of claim 15 further comprising a game board depicting markings of a full sized basketball court with a first and second end wherein the cups filled with fluid are placed at the first and second end.
 17. A method for playing a table top basketball game comprising, putting a beverage or fluid into a cup, securing a backboard to the cup and throwing a small light weight ball in to the cup.
 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising a portable playing surface where the cup filled with a beverage is put at a first and second end similar to a full size basketball court and players attempt to throw a ball into an opposing player's cup.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the cup and backboard are placed on a commonly known beer pong game board as an additional cup to attempt to throw a ball into.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein a player attempts to throw the ball into cups placed further apart and receives additional points in proportion to distance away from the thrower. 